Senior Payroll Tax Analyst

JOB SUMMARY

*This role will be hybrid if you live within a 50 mile radius of one of our offices in (PA, DE, WV or NY)

The Senior Payroll Tax Analyst serves as the subject matter expert for payroll tax compliance across all jurisdictions, ensuring accurate and timely filings while minimizing financial risk. This role manages end-to-end payroll tax activities, including filings, issue resolution, and coordination with third-party partners.

Working with the payroll team, the analyst supports tax-related aspects of payroll processing, including year-end reporting and W 2 preparation, while resolving complex tax issues and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and perform peer review of federal, state, and local payroll tax filings, ensuring accuracy and timeliness

• Manage quarterly and year-end tax filings, including W-2 preparation, W-2c corrections, and filing amendments

• Ensure compliance with all payroll tax regulations and reporting requirements across jurisdictions

• Research and resolve tax agency notices, discrepancies, and historical payroll tax issues

• Support and manage responses to tax audits and compliance reviews

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to penalties, interest, and non-compliance

• Support payroll processing by managing tax-related components for standard and off-cycle payroll runs

• Analyze and resolve complex payroll tax scenarios (e.g., multi-state taxation, regulatory changes)

• Ensure accurate setup and maintenance of payroll tax data within systems

• Coordinate registration and setup for new tax jurisdictions and maintain ongoing compliance requirements

• Manage unemployment tax rates and jurisdictional account updates

• Oversee and maintain payroll tax accounts with federal, state, and local agencies

• Manage relationships with third-party payroll tax vendors, ensuring service accuracy and timeliness

• Partner with internal stakeholders (e.g., Payroll, Benefits, Compensation) to support tax compliance

• Respond to tax-related inquiries from employees, leadership, and external partners

• Prepare and analyze payroll tax reporting and compliance metrics

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls, and efficiency within payroll tax operations

• Support special projects and initiatives related to payroll tax and compliance

• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Preferred

• None

EXPERIENCE

Required

• 5–7 years of payroll experience

to include

• 5+ years focused specifically on payroll tax

Preferred

• None

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• None

Preferred

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

SKILLS

• Workday and Tax Configuration

• Advanced Microsoft Excel (data analysis, auditing, reconciliation)

• Strong Communication Skills

• Data Analysis and Problem Solving

• Third-Party Vendor Management

LANGUAGE (other than English)

• None

Travel Required

• 0% - 25%

PHYSICAL, MENTAL DEMANDS and WORKING CONDITIONS

Position Type

• Office-Based

Physical work site required 

• Yes

Disclaimer: The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Compliance Requirement: This position adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies.

As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times. In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy. Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements. 

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Base pay is determined by a variety of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expected contributions, as well as internal peer equity, market, and business considerations.  The displayed salary range does not reflect any geographic differential Highmark may apply for certain locations based upon comparative markets.

Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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